Sunderland fans divided over calls for quick managerial appointment

The Scot resigned on Monday after a disastrous campaign in which the Black Cats finish rock bottom of the Premier League.

After last year’s on/off saga of Sam Allardcye and England virtually robbed the team of a pre-season, many fans want to see an announcement as quickly as possible.

But others have called for a more approach careful and considered approach in an effort to end the managerial roundabout at the Stadium of Light over recent seasons.

Opinion on the streets of Sunderland yesterday was evenly split - but there was plenty of support for the return of Kevin Phillips.

Anthony Loughlin, who describes himself as a ‘fairweather fan’ wants to see the club take its time over the next managerial appointment.

“I totally disagree with getting somebody in quickly,” he said.

“They have had a few people in over the years and it has not worked out.”

Although he did not have any particular candidates in mind, relegation was not the time to be blooding a new manager, he said.

“I would like to see someone who knows what they are doing.”

Eighty-year-old Thomas Cockburn, from Penshaw, is a lifelong fan who remembers watching the likes of Raich Carter, Len Shackleton and Brian Clough from the Roker Park terraces.

He believes the club should prioritise a quick appointment to give the new manager the best chance to bring in new players and get a full pre-season under his belt.

“I think they want somebody in as soon as possible,” he said.

“They want to get somebody in sharphish.”

His ideal appointment would be a Black Cats legend with back-up from a more experienced pair of helping hands.

“I think they should give Kevin Phillips a go, with somebody to help him. He has got the club at heart.”

Whoever comes in will have to be realistic about the situation in which the club finds itself: “They will have to get players who are used to the Championship, like Newcastle did last season,” said Thomas.

Gavin Jennings, from Hendon, is so disillusioned with developments at the Stadium of Light that he has stopped going to senior games. He wants to see the club take care with the next appointment.

“They should take their time,” he said.

“We have had, what, 15 managers since Peter Reid left?”

He believes the team needs an extensive rebuild and that a manager who already has experience of helping Sunderland out of the Championship could be due a return.

“Roy Keane would be brilliant for me,” he said.

Seventeen-year-old Dom Moan, from Sunderland, also wants to see a careful and considered appointment: “I think they should take their time,” he said.

“They need the right manager. I want someone like Nigel Pearson or Kevin Phillips.

“I don’t think he lacks experience - he has been at Derby for a while.

“And I think the lads would play for him and the supporters would get behind us if we are managed by a club legend,”

Trevor Potts thinks the club should move ‘really quickly’ to make an appointment and thinks former Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri is the man for the job.

“They need to get somebody in quickly, who knows what he is doing,” said 61-year-old Trevor, who lives in the city centre flats.

“We need somebody who has got experience.”

Bill Coles, 74 is so disgusted with the team’s performance last season that he has taken a vow of silence on the subject - unsurprisingly, it didn’t last long.

Bill, from South Hylton, also thinks the club should move fast and is another fan of Superkev for the hot seat.

“It think probably Kevin Phillips but I do worry he’s not got enough experience,” he said.

“I would like to see him and the lad who has just won a medal at Wembley - Julio Arca.”

He has been unimpressed with the standard of the second tier: “The Championship is a pub league,” he said.

“It is good to watch but you can lose 10 games and still win the league.”

Bill’s friend Michael Crawford, however, thinks a more cautious approach is required: “It has been the same way for about ten years now,” he said.

“The manager has been a short-term decision.

“I don’t think they should rush an appointment,but they can’t leave it too long. It can’t wait until pre-season starts - that was the problem last season.”